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Topic: The end of a era with theatre closing

Claude S. Ayakawa
Film God

Posts: 2738
From: Waipahu, Hawaii, USA
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 06-17-2007 01:08 AM

When Consolidated Amusement Company in Hawaii was locally owned before it was purchased by Los Angeles based Pacific Theatres, the company operated 18 large single screen theatres. They included the Waikiki (before it became known as the Waikiki#3), Kuhio, Princess, Hawaii, Liberty, Toyo, Kapahulu, Kaimuki, Kewalo, Pawaa (Later to become the Cinerama), Liliha, Palama, Kalihi, Waipahu, Wahiawa, Waialua, Ewa and the Varsity. With the exception of the Varsity, all of Consolidated's original theatres were closed years ago. Sadly, the Varsity will also close tomorrow after sixty seven years of operation. The Varsity opened just one month after I was born and it feels a part of me will die tomorrow with the closing of this theatre. Even as a single screen house, the Varsity was not an exceptional auditorium with stunning decor but it was a great place to see a movie. When dual projection 3-D was popular in the early fifties, the Varsity and the Liberty were the only two Consolidated theatres equipped for the process. Along with the Kuhio, Waikiki Twins and the Kapahulu, the Varsity was also a Road Show theatre and equipped with 70mm projection and sound. The first reserved seat engagement was THE BIBLE in 70mm. Other 70mm engagements to play at the Varsity included THE SAND PEBBLES, STAR, & DR. DOOLITTLE. The large single screen theatre was twinned in the eighties and in recent years only featured art house features and was the main venue for the Hawaii Film Festival before the Hawaii Theatre under new management and the Dole Cannery took over. The closing of the Varsity was reported in Honolulu's two major nespapers this morning and made front page news in both.

After tomorrow all 18 of Consolidated original theatres will be history

-Claude

[ 06-17-2007, 02:10 AM: Message edited by: Claude S. Ayakawa ]

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